Breast milk supply/Supplement w/ formula NEED ADVICE PLEASE!

I need some advice.... I was trying to exclusively breastfeed my son with some success. He is having trouble latching on due to a flat nipple and my milk supply wasn't coming in. I took him to the pediatrician yesterday and he has lost too much weight. She told me to continue bf but I need to supplement 1 1/2 oz of formula after each bf. I started this yesterday...

I now noticed that some milk has finally come in but little supply and it seems like more in one breast than the other. I have also noticed that he is having more trouble latching on now bc my nipples seem to have flatten even more! He might even be experiencing more trouble now because of the bottle feeding....

I want to continue strictly with BM.
should I start pumping to maintain my milk however i'm not sure if it will continue to come in or not...


also for those of you who are bf but supplementing with formula as well, which bottle are you using?

Re: Breast milk supply/Supplement w/ formula NEED ADVICE PLEASE!

as long as you keep pulling on the breast your milk supply should still come in so pump as much as you can to help build up your supple also use a nipple shiled to help him latch on to breast feed you can get it from babies r us

Re: Breast milk supply/Supplement w/ formula NEED ADVICE PLEASE!

Personally, I EBFd DS until 15 months old. When he was a week old my ped said he lost too much weight and I needed to supplement.

I ignored my peds advice and continued to nurse. I knew the only way to maintain and/or increase my supply was putting him at the breast as much as possible.

By 3 months he had been gaining so well my ped suggested I cut his caloric intake by offering water. I ignored again.

I have flat nipples to, but DS latched like a champ with the help of a lactation consultant at the hospital. Never used a nipple shield.

You can try getting Fenugreek or More Milk (its an herbal tea) to try to increase your supply. Oatmeal and lots of water should help too.

Re: Breast milk supply/Supplement w/ formula NEED ADVICE PLEASE!

I had the same exact problem with DS. I did try using a shield and it worked great with the latching problem, but it hurt like hell after using it for a day. I finally gave up trying to nurse him and have been exclusively pumping and bottle-feeding him ever since. I use the Dr. Brown's bottles. He seems to like them, although I'll admit I never tried a different brand with him. The only annoying thing is the bottles have some extra parts (this blue straw-like insert and rubber top) to them, so cleaning and storing can be a little more time-consuming than with other bottles.

It took just a little bit longer for my milk to come in than what the lactation consultants told me at the hospital. Once it did come in, I was pumping every three hours to build and maintain my supply. Now I'm down to just two pumping sessions per day and supplement with formula. Good luck!

Re: Breast milk supply/Supplement w/ formula NEED ADVICE PLEASE!

I had trouble with my supply. I pumped for every feeding and each bottle he had was a mix of bm and formula. I also kept putting him to the breast and eventually my supply from the tap caught up to his demand...but I never pumped out enough milk in one sitting for a bottle.

I have no experience with the flat nipples, but maybe a LLL person can help with that.

good luck!

Re: Breast milk supply/Supplement w/ formula NEED ADVICE PLEASE!

I had the SAME issue. DS latched immediately in the hospital, but stopped once my milk started coming in. I pumped and stopped BF all together. He never got any formula, though. At around 7 weeks, I tried to latch him again and we've been very successful ever since!! He still gets pumped BM in a bottle throughout the day as well.. I use Dr. Brown's.

Re: Breast milk supply/Supplement w/ formula NEED ADVICE PLEASE!

I have had good success with the nipple shield. I have been using it for 6 weeks and I have recently been trying without it and they are latching. So for the time being it maybe good for you to try.

Since I am nursing twins the LC suggested pumping after each nursing session to help increase my supply. It is time consuming but maybe that will help increase your supply.

Good luck

Re: Breast milk supply/Supplement w/ formula NEED ADVICE PLEASE!

i met w/ a lactation consultant who recommended i use a nipple shield and take fenugreek supplements to help my milk supply and look at the website:
www.kellymom.com

have you met w/ a lactation consultant?

i have been supplementing w/ formula from the beginning b/c a. she was a preemie and couldn't latch and b. my milk isn't totally in yet

good luck!

Message edited 3/4/2011 3:05:55 PM.

Re: Breast milk supply/Supplement w/ formula NEED ADVICE PLEASE!

You can also use breast shells - they help draw the nipple out

I used playtex nursers, dr. browns when I used a bottle

Re: Breast milk supply/Supplement w/ formula NEED ADVICE PLEASE!

I would try Dr. Browns bottles.

Also, how many days are you post-partum? My milk came in on the 4th day after birth.

Do you have a pump? I would pump a little before you try breastfeeding him, just enough to get the nipple out.

Goodluck!

Re: Breast milk supply/Supplement w/ formula NEED ADVICE PLEASE!

Thanks for the advice ladies! My milk came in 5 days post partum.... We are starting to get a little more successful in latching, though it hurts like hell! Even while he is sucking it hurts....but the pain eventually fades as he continues to feed. It seems like he has a proper latch and I think it hurts because my nipple is soooooooooo sore!

I've started pumping today...I start off feeding by putting him on the breast, if I struggle for more than 10 minutes I give up and try the other breast. Then I'll try the other again but it hurts so much... What can I do about this pain??? After I "finish" bf, I start pumping.....

Other question...How long does it take for your breast to refill with milk Does that depend on how much I am bf/pumping? Should I do it every 2 hours instead of 3? He is so difficult to wake up though!! I am continuing to supplement with the formula but the pediatrician said I could do it every other feeding if I am confident he is receiving enough from bf. (He gained 7 oz since Thursday so he seems to be getting enough from me and the forumla! )

I tried the nipple shield and it was impossible...I think I might have gotten the wrong size...

Do warm compressors help with milk supply? I am also trying to consume more liquids...soup, milk, water. Is there anything else I can do?

Re: Breast milk supply/Supplement w/ formula NEED ADVICE PLEASE!

If you're in pain throughout BFing, DS likely does not have a good latch. It can take a while to establish a good latch. Do you know whether he is tongue tied? That can have a big effect on the latch. For the first 6-8 weeks, I had a terrible stabbing pain for the first minute or so after DS latched. That's normal. If it was still painful after that, I would put my finger in DS's mouth to release the latch and then put him back on. Sometimes I had to do this several times until he latched properly. It's very important to have a good latch.

For the pain, express a few drops of milk on your breasts and walk around topless if you need to. Lansinoh cream (purple tube) helps a lot. You can put it on before and after every feeding. I've also heard good things about APNO cream. I believe you need a prescription for that. Your OB should be able to call one in for you. I've also heard good things about soothing gel pads. I'm not sure what brand that is.

You always have milk. A baby is much more efficient at getting the milk than a pump. Even if you're no longer getting milk with the pump, you should still be able to BF.

As long as there are no more weight concerns, I'd feed on demand. Try to not let DS go more than 4 hours between feedings during the day. I found that if I sometimes waited too long, DS would get too hungry and was too frustrated to latch.

To help with your milk supply, drink plenty of water. Drink a large glass before or during BFing/pumping. Make sure you're eating enough. A BFing mom needs to consume 500 extra calories to maintain supply. Since your milk just came in, I wouldn't really worry about your supply yet. DS's stomach is so small right now. You don't need much to fill him up.

I highly recommend calling a Lactation Consultant, especially if you're having latching issues. Your hospital should have a list of LCs in your area. Some hospitals offer BFing support groups. There may also be a La Leche League in your area. These are all resources that can help with any BFing issues. The first month or two is the hardest. Hang in there. It will get better. Good luck!

Re: Breast milk supply/Supplement w/ formula NEED ADVICE PLEASE!

Thank you for the advice and encouragement ladies! as much as it takes out of me, I am going to keep on trying for as long as I can

Re: Breast milk supply/Supplement w/ formula NEED ADVICE PLEASE!

yup..you are never out of milk...try some gatorade also...helped boost my supply